PARALLEL SESSIONS

TECMED

Ursula Hahn

Medical value from the Medical Valley Bayern

Ursula Hahn, manager Medical Valley Bayern e.V., outlined the keys to the success of the prestigious medical centre where she works, which is located in the region of Bavaria and has become the medical Silicon Valley of Europe. It not only boasts an excellent continental location, but has also been able to unite leading firms such as Siemens Medical Solutions with 250 medium-sized companies under one roof, and has drawn envy for its ability to get universities and research centres involved. The numbers speak for themselves: 400.000 products in 12.000 categories representing €50 billion in sales volume.

KEY IDEAS

• The medical technology market
Germany is a world leader in medical technology with more than 150,000 companies. However, the Bavarian situation is not the result of serendipity; it is the fruit of the German government's intense innovation policy.

• Factors for the success of clusters
In order for clusters to function and be sustainable, they require implementation of the quadruple helix: an intertwining of public administration, business, science and capital. Whilst collaboration between the public and private sectors is complicated, it is "inevitable" and "highly visibile". Leadership, and not least, heavy investment in marketing, are also required. "It can not be done any other way."

• The importance of education
Attracting and creating talent demand "investing in education and training good professors" "Talented individuals want to interact with other talented individuals." "Talented people are hungry for knowledge. Good professors are needed." That is why teaching is so important.